By Mohamed Attia
The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has released a new Contactless Travel Guide aimed at accelerating the global adoption of touch-free journeys. The guide is designed to help airlines implement contactless solutions at specific airports, streamlining the passenger experience and eliminating the need for traditional paper documents.
IATA said the guide outlines the use of interoperable biometric technologies that allow travelers to complete airport procedures without physical documents such as passports or boarding passes.
Key travel steps that could benefit from biometric solutions include baggage drop-off, lounge access, security screening, and boarding. Among the guide’s main features is a central reference point for airlines to identify where biometric touchpoints are available across their networks. It also provides eligibility details based on location, enabling carriers to determine which passengers – based on nationality, passport compatibility, and age – qualify for contactless services through biometric identification.
The guide also outlines the technical protocols necessary for airlines to integrate with biometric infrastructure at airports or in collaboration with other carriers.
Nick Careen, IATA’s Senior Vice President for Operations, Safety, and Security, said: “The release of the Contactless Travel Guide will make it easier for airlines to scale up biometric services for their customers. As passengers increasingly demand more efficiency, biometric recognition is becoming a central feature of seamless travel. This guide, along with IATA’s One ID initiative, aims to fast-track this transition using essential data and global standards.”
IATA also announced that digital services provider Airware, along with identity management firms IDEMIA and iPassport, will be the first to demonstrate the guide in action at this year’s Passenger Terminal Expo in Madrid. Delegates will be able to simulate check-in for fictional flights between the UK and Spain using the WorldJet Airline app and pass through biometric touchpoints at the Airware and IDEMIA stands, replicating a real airport experience.
